WO2020068096A1 - Protractible hooks - Google Patents

Protractible hooks Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020068096A1
WO2020068096A1 PCT/US2018/053290 US2018053290W WO2020068096A1 WO 2020068096 A1 WO2020068096 A1 WO 2020068096A1 US 2018053290 W US2018053290 W US 2018053290W WO 2020068096 A1 WO2020068096 A1 WO 2020068096A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hook
protractible
protractibie
housing
charging device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/053290
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Syed S. Azam
Dimitre Mehandjiysky
Alexander Williams
Original Assignee
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. filed Critical Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority to PCT/US2018/053290 priority Critical patent/WO2020068096A1/en
Priority to EP18934927.7A priority patent/EP3750021A4/en
Priority to CN201880092831.2A priority patent/CN112020691A/en
Priority to US17/042,151 priority patent/US20210208626A1/en
Publication of WO2020068096A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020068096A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/26Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
    • G06F1/266Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
    • GPHYSICS
    • G05CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05BCONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/04Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers
    • G05B19/042Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16Constructional details or arrangements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1601Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays
    • G06F1/1607Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F8/00Arrangements for software engineering
    • G06F8/60Software deployment
    • G06F8/65Updates
    • GPHYSICS
    • G05CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05BCONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20Pc systems
    • G05B2219/25Pc structure of the system
    • G05B2219/25353Inductive coupling of power, transformer
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2200/00Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/04 - G06F1/32
    • G06F2200/16Indexing scheme relating to G06F1/16 - G06F1/18
    • G06F2200/163Indexing scheme relating to constructional details of the computer
    • G06F2200/1631Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Definitions

  • Peripherals are commonly used with computers.
  • a desktop computer device may utilize a number of human interface devices, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a camera, a printer, headphones, and the like.
  • Some peripherals, when not in use, may be stored on the same surface of the computer device (such as a desk top), on a separate surface (such as a shelf), or in a container (such as a drawer).
  • Figures 1 -3 are block diagrams depicting example display devices.
  • Figure 4 is block diagram depicting an example all-in-one computer device.
  • Figure 5 is a block diagram depicting example components of a display device.
  • Figure 8 is a flow diagrams depicting example methods of operating a display device with a protractible hook.
  • Figures 7-10 depict example protractible hooks useable with example displays.
  • Figures 1 1-14 are sectional views of example protractible hooks in example states of operation.
  • Figure 15 depicts an example display device with example protractible hooks.
  • a display device is an apparatus having a display for producing images.
  • Example display devices include a monitor, a television, and a mobile device, such as a tablet.
  • An all-in-one computer system represents a computer system that includes a display device and a computer system with computing resources to execute an operating system.
  • Example all-in-one systems may be a desktop computer with an integrated screen or a laptop computer.
  • Computer systems such as all-in-one computer systems, may include ports to attach peripherals which allow for providing additional computing features or for enhancing the user experience of the computer system.
  • An example peripheral is a headphone device.
  • a headphone device represents an electronic device with at least one speaker coupled to a support formed to be wearable on at least a portion of a head of a human being.
  • Example headphone devices may include over-the-ear headphones, a single speaker headset with a microphone, in- ear earphones, a virtual reality headset, and the like.
  • Example headphone devices may surround the outside of the ear, rest on the ear, or fit inside the ear canal.
  • Example headphone devices may be wired or wirelessly operable.
  • Such peripherals may generally be stored in a container, such as a desk drawer, or on a desk surface when not in use.
  • a user may connect the peripheral to computer system for each intended use, remove the peripheral after use, and stow the peripheral away when not being used for an extended period of time.
  • a headset may be left on the desk when not in use.
  • a hook mounted to a desk, wall, computer case, or monitor may be used to store headphones when not in use, as examples.
  • Some peripherals are wireless for communication and/or power. Such wireless devices may utilize a charging station, which may also take up limited space on the desk top where the keyboard and mouse are located, for example.
  • a display device having a protractible hook with charging capabilities may be retained in a compartment while not in use, and the hook may protract to a useable orientation ready to sustain a headphone device when desired by the user.
  • the protractible hook may protract in a controlled manner to reveal a charging station capable of sustaining the headphones when not in use and retract into the display device when the headphones are in use and the hook is no longer desired. This may improve the user experience and decrease clutter on the limited space of the desktop on which a display device and/or all-in-one computer system may reside, for example.
  • FIGS 1 -3 are block diagrams depicting example display devices 100.
  • the example display device 100 of Figure 1 generally includes a housing 102, a protractible hook 104, a charging device 106, and an actuation member 108.
  • the actuation member 108 causes the protractible hook 104 to move in and out of a compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 to allow a headphone device to rest on the protractible hook 104 and be charged by the charging device 106.
  • the housing 102 of a display device 100 represents an enclosure for a screen.
  • the housing 102 may have component parts including a bezel and a bucket panel in this manner, the housing 102 may include components such as a front face, a side wall, a back panel, a top wail, and a bottom wall.
  • the housing 102 includes structure that defines a compartment 1 10 to house the protractible hook 104.
  • the protractible hook 104 is fittable within the compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 when the protractible hook 104 is in a retracted position.
  • the protractible hook 104 represents a prop having a curved or angular piece of a supportive substance for holding or suspending something, such as a headset.
  • the protractible hook 104 may include a curved pole or a substantially flat resting surface (such as a tray) with a lip at a substantially perpendicular angle to act as a backstop to cradle a headphone device in place.
  • the protractible hook 104 may be a cantilever having a free end for placing a headphone device upon and fixed end coupled to a support, such as support 144 of Figure 2, to sustain the weight of the headphone device.
  • a brace may be used to support the protractible hook 104 as desired.
  • a charging device 106 may be coupled to the protractible hook 104 to allow a peripheral, such as a headphone device to charge while sustained by the protractible hook 104.
  • the charging device 106 represents an electronic device having a power source and capable of transferring power to a chargeable device.
  • Charging devices may include charging via electrical connection or wireless charging. As example, the charging device may charge via a direct electrical connection, via induction, via a near-field charging method, a far-field charging method, or the like.
  • the protractible hook 104 may move among a plurality of positions.
  • the actuation member 108 represents a mechanism capable of being activated to induce movement of the protractible hook 104.
  • the actuation member 108 may include a spring-loaded ejection device, such as spring-loaded ejection device 140 of Figure 2.
  • the actuation member 108 may move the protractible hook 104 between a retracted position within the compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 and a protracted position where the protractible hook 104 is positioned external to the housing 102.
  • the protractible hook 104 is accessible to a user when in a protracted position and may not be accessible when in a retracted position.
  • the actuation member 108 provides controlled force to move the protractible hook 108 in a regulated manner.
  • the actuation member 108 may include a spring, a piston, a pump, a motor, and the like.
  • the actuation member 108 may include integrated or additional components to control the movement.
  • the actuation member 108 may include a speed control device, such as speed control device 142 of Figure 2, to control movement speed of the protractible hook 104 between the retracted position and the protracted position. Controlled movement may include increasing speed, decreasing speed, movement at a steady rate, or stepped positioning.
  • the actuation member 108 may activate or provide control based on user interaction.
  • the actuation member 108 may be mechanically coupled to the protractible hook 104 such that, in response to user interaction with a housing component (or a peripheral connectable to an all-in-one computer system), a motor drives the protractible hook between the retracted position within the housing component and the protracted position projecting from the housing component.
  • the user interaction may be direct or indirect.
  • the user may push on the face of the protractible hook 104 to activate the actuation member 108, the user may push on a button separate from the protractible hook 104 and/or actuation member 108, or the user may interact with a human interface device (such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or camera) that causes activation of the actuation member 108.
  • a human interface device such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or camera
  • actuation member 108 may include the protractible hook itself, a button separate to the protractible hook, the display housing 102 (such as buy tapping on the bezel or display in a manner corresponding to a gesture), an on-screen display, a peripheral key input, a proximity sensor, an image capture device (e.g , to capture a gesture), a system-level function call such as a software interrupt, and the like.
  • the protractible hooks coupled to a display device, such has including a protractible hook on the left side of the display device and another on the right side of the display device.
  • the display device may include accessibility features, such as a user-accessible button 146 and a proximity sensor 152, and alignment components, such as a magnet 148.
  • the user-accessible button 146 represents a physical contact point of the housing 102 to activate the actuation member 108 to move the protractible hook 104.
  • the magnet 148 may be located on or near the protractible hook 104 to align the position of the peripheral to lay properly on the protractible hook 104, to ensure charging contacts of the charging device 106 are properly aligned with a charging port of the peripheral, as an example.
  • the proximity sensor 152 represents circuitry to identify whether an object is nearby (e.g., within a threshold range of the sensor 152).
  • Example proximity sensors include capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, optical sensors, sonar sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and the like.
  • a controller 1 18 may be used in conjunction with the proximity sensor 152.
  • the controller 1 18 may, for example, activate the actuation member 108 when the proximity sensor 152 detects the presence of a peripheral to be placed on the protractible hook 104 and/or activate the charging device 106 based upon location data identified by the proximity sensor 152.
  • the charging device 106 may provide power transfer and wireless data communication transfer with a wirelessly operable device when the wirelessly operable device is within a range threshold as indicated by the proximity sensor 152
  • the controller 1 18 represents a processor resource and a machine- readable medium having a control program stored thereon.
  • the control program when executed by the processor resource, causes the controller to operate according to the control program.
  • the controller 1 18 may execute instructions that cause the controller 1 18 to activate an actuation member (e.g., a motor) to move the protractible hook to a protracted position or the retracted position (e.g., based on location data provided by the proximity sensor 152).
  • the controller 1 18 may execute instructions that cause the controller 1 18 to activate the charging device 106 when the protractib!e hook 104 is in a protracted position (e.g., start charging operations when the protractibie hook 104 reaches the protracted position).
  • control program may be executed to cause the controller 1 18 to request system information of a wirelessly operable device, cause an interface to provide a power status indicator, transfer the software update to the wirelessly operable device in response to the system information indicating a software update exists, and deactivate wireless charge operations and wireless data communication in response to a determination (by the controller 1 18) that the location data indicates the wirelessly operable device is outside the range threshold.
  • the controller 1 18 may be pairable with a wirelessly operable device, such as via a personal area network communication method.
  • the display device 100 generally includes a screen 1 12, a housing 102 around the screen 1 12, a protractibie hook 104, a charging device 106, an actuation member 108, and a retainment member 150.
  • the screen 1 12 represents the surface on which a visual representation of output of an electronic device is displayed.
  • the housing 102 may include a side wall having an aperture.
  • the protractibie hook 104 may be protractibie and retractable into the housing 102 at the aperture of the side wail.
  • the protractibie hook 104 may include a face 1 14 and a holding area 1 16.
  • the face 1 14 may be a surface to cover an aperture of the housing 102 (e.g., a port to the compartment 1 10 of Figure 1 ) when the protractibie hook 104 is in a retracted position.
  • the face 1 14 may be fittable within the aperture of the housing; for example, the face 1 14 may have the same shape as the defined aperture.
  • the face to cover the aperture of the housing 102 may be separate to the protractibie hook 104 and operate independently or in conjunction with movement of the protractibie hook 104.
  • the face may be a door integrated into the housing 102.
  • the protractibie hook 104 may include a holding area 1 16.
  • the holding area 1 16 is a surface of the protractibie hook 104 on which a peripheral may be placed to be sustained by the protractibie hook 104.
  • the holding area 1 16 may be perpendicular or oblique to the face 1 14.
  • the slope of the holding area 1 16 in combination with a lip may encourage retainment of a peripheral within the holding area 1 16.
  • the holding area 1 18 may also include access to the charging device 106, alignment features, protective features, and the like.
  • the retainment member 150 represents a mechanism capable of sustaining the protractibie hook in a retracted position.
  • the retainment member may be activated to reduce movement of the protractibie hook 104 in the retracted position in response to a mechanical event, such as a mechanical event activatable by user interaction.
  • Example retainment members may be a stop, a gear- locking feature, a detent in a spring arm, and the like.
  • the actuation member 108 is coupled to the protractibie hook 104 to move the protractibie hook 104 from the retracted position to a protracted position in response to a first mechanical event activatable by user interaction
  • the retainment member 150 is coupleable to the protractibie hook 104 to sustain the protractibie hook in the retracted position in response to a second mechanical event activatable by user interaction.
  • FIG. 4 is block diagram depicting an example all-in-one computer system 101.
  • the all-in-one computer system 101 generally includes a display 100, a housing component 102, a protractibie hook 104, a charging device 108, an actuation member 108, and a controller 108.
  • the housing component 102 may be coupled to the display and form a cavity (such as compartment 1 10 of Figure 1 ) in which the protractibie hook 104 may reside.
  • the protractibie hook 104 may be integral to the housing and able to extend to the exterior of the housing.
  • the protractibie hook 104 may have a periphery that fits within the cavity, a holding area 1 16 capable of supporting weight of a wirelessly operable device when the protractibie hook 104 is in a protracted position, and a face 1 14 aligned about flush with a surface of the housing component 102 (e.g., the exterior side wall of the housing) when the protractibie hook 104 is in a retracted position.
  • the charging device 106 may be integrated in the protractibie hook 104 or otherwise accessible via the protractibie hook 104, such as including a contact point or charging port within the holding area 1 16 of the protractibie hook 104.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting example components of a display device.
  • the components may include a charging device 106, an actuation member 108, a proximity sensor 152, and a controller 1 18.
  • the charging device 106, the actuation member 108, and the proximity sensor 152 may be coupled to the processor resource 120 of the controller 1 18 to coordinate operation of those components.
  • the controller 1 18 may include a memory resource 122.
  • the memory resource 122 may contain data useable by the controller 1 18, such as location data 134 provided from a proximity sensor 152.
  • the memory resource 122 may contain a set of instructions that are executable by the processor resource 120.
  • the set of instructions are operable to cause the processor resource 120 to perform operations of the display device when the set of instructions are executed by the processor resource 120.
  • the set of instructions stored on the memory resource 122 may be represented as an activation module 124, a system information module 126, an indicator module 128, an update module 130, and a movement module 132.
  • the activation module 124, the system information module 126, the indicator module 128, the update module 130, and the movement module 132 represent program instructions that when executed cause function of the charging device 106, the actuation member 108, and/or the proximity sensor 152.
  • the processor resource 120 may carry out a set of instructions to execute the modules 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, and/or any other appropriate operations associated with a display device.
  • the processor resource 120 may carry out a set of instructions to perform operations corresponding to the description of method 600 of Figure 6.
  • modules illustrated in Figure 5 and discussed in other example implementations perform specific functionalities in the examples discussed herein, these and other functionalities may be accomplished, implemented, or realized at different modules or at combinations of modules.
  • two or more modules illustrated and/or discussed as separate may be combined into a module that performs the functionalities discussed in relation to the two modules.
  • functionalities performed at one module as discussed in relation to these examples may be performed at a different module or different modules.
  • a processor resource is any appropriate circuitry capable of processing (e.g., computing) instructions, such as one or multiple processing elements capable of retrieving instructions from a memory resource and executing those instructions.
  • the processor resource 120 may be a centra! processing unit (CPU) that enables operation of a protractible hook and a charging device by fetching, decoding, and executing modules 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132.
  • Example processor resources include at least one CPU, a semiconductor-based microprocessor, a programmable logic device (PLD), and the like.
  • Example PLDs include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable array logic (PAL), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and an erasable programmable logic device (EPLD).
  • a processor resource may include multiple processing elements that are integrated in a single device or distributed across devices.
  • a processor resource may process the instructions serially, concurrently, or in partial concurrence.
  • a memory resource represents a medium to store data utilized and/or produced by a display device.
  • the medium is any non-transitory medium or combination of non-transitory media able to electronically store data, such as modules of a display device and/or data used by the display device.
  • the medium may be a storage medium, which is distinct from a transitory
  • the medium may be machine-readable, such as computer-readable.
  • the medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that is capable of containing (i.e., storing) executable instructions.
  • a memory resource may be said to store program instructions that when executed by a processor resource cause the processor resource to implement functionality of a display device, such as the display device 100 of Figure 1.
  • a memory resource may be integrated in the same device as a processor resource or it may be separate but accessible to that device and the processor resource.
  • a memory resource may be distributed across devices.
  • the controller 1 18 has been described as circuitry or a combination of circuitry and executable instructions. Such components may be implemented in a number of fashions.
  • the executable instructions may be processor-executable instructions, such as program instructions, stored on the memory resource 122, which is a tangible, non-transitory computer- readable storage medium, and the circuitry may be electronic circuitry, such as processor resource 120, for executing those instructions.
  • the instructions residing on a memory resource may comprise any set of instructions to be executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as a script) by a processor resource.
  • the executable instructions may be part of an installation package that when installed may be executed by a processor resource to perform operations of a display device, such as the method 600 described with regards to Figure 6.
  • a memory resource may be a portable medium such as a compact disc, a digital video disc, a flash drive, or memory maintained by a computer device, such as a data server, from which the installation package may be downloaded and installed.
  • the executable Instructions may be part of an application or applications already installed.
  • a memory resource may be a non-volatile memory resource such as read-only memory (ROM), a volatile memory resource such as random-access memory (RAM), a storage device, or a combination thereof.
  • Example forms of a memory resource include static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), electrically erasable programmable ROM
  • a memory resource may include integrated memory such as a hard drive (HD), a solid-state drive (SSD), or an optical drive.
  • HD hard drive
  • SSD solid-state drive
  • optical drive optical drive
  • Figure 6 is a flow diagram depicting an example method 600 of operating a display device with a protractibie hook.
  • example methods of operating a display device with a protractibie hook may generally comprise identifying a peripheral using a proximity sensor, protracting the
  • protractibie hook activating the charging device, and retracting the protractibie hook.
  • Such methods are performable by the display devices discussed herein using components such as a controller, an actuation member, and a proximity sensor.
  • location data is received from a proximity sensor.
  • the location data may represent a distance of a peripheral, such as a wirelessly operable device, with respect to the location of the proximity sensor.
  • the actuation member is activated to move the protractibie hook to the protracted position based on the location data retrieved at block 602. For example, if the location data is representative of a peripheral moving to be placed on the protractibie hook, the actuation member protracts the protractibie hook from the interior of the display device to an exterior of the display device.
  • the charging device may be activated to allow the peripheral, such as a wirelessly chargeable
  • a power status indicator such as a power status indicator on the peripheral or on the display device, at block 608.
  • the display device may be setup to allow for updating software or firmware associated with the peripheral identified by the proximity sensor at block 602.
  • a request for system information is sent to a peripheral when the device is propped up by the protractible hook.
  • the software update is transferred to the peripheral, such as over a wireless communication protocol.
  • location data is received from the proximity sensor, such as location data indicating that the peripheral has been removed from the protractible hook.
  • any wireless charge operations or wireless data communications may be deactivated at block 616.
  • the actuation member is activated to move the protractible hook to a retracted position based on the location data identified at block 614.
  • FIGs 7-10 depict example protractible hooks 104 useable with example displays 100.
  • the display 100 includes a housing 102 around a screen 1 12.
  • a headphone device 200 is depicted as resting on a protractible hook 104
  • the headphone device 200 rests on the holding area 1 16 with the face 1 14 acting as a lip to sustain the headphone device 200 from falling off the protractible hook 104.
  • the charging device 106 is exposed for access on the top surface of the protractible hook 104 within the holding area 1 16.
  • the protractible hook 104 depicted in Figures 7 and 8 is relatively flat, rectangular, and substantially parallel to the top surface of the housing 102. In this manner, the headphone device 200 may be propped above a desktop surface and may be charged at the same time.
  • the face 1 14 of the protractible hook 104 is substantially rectangular and has a contour replicating the side wall of the housing 102 as well as a rounded corner that leads to the top wall of the housing 102.
  • the periphery of the face lays flush with the top wall and side wall of the housing 102 when the protractible hook is refracted into the housing.
  • a second protractib!e hook may be coupled to the display device with corresponding components to operate the second protractible hook.
  • a plurality of hooks may be located on a side of a monitor or a single hook may be located each side of the monitor.
  • the display 100 includes a housing 102 around a screen 1 12 and a protractible hook 104 capable of protruding from the housing 102 and away from the screen 1 12.
  • the surface of the protractible hook 104 may include a headphone receiving area 1 18 that is curved or oblique with respect to screen 1 12.
  • a headphone device 200 is depicted as resting on a protractible hook 104.
  • the headphone device 200 rests on the holding area 1 16 with the face 1 14 acting as a lip to sustain the headphone device 200 from falling off the protractible hook 104.
  • the holding area 1 18 includes alignment magnets 148 to ensure the charging device 106 couples to the headphone 200.
  • Each contact point may be a magnet and/or a power contact point in any appropriate combination.
  • three contact points may be magnets as well as a negative electrical contact, a positive electrical contact, or a ground contact.
  • the charging device 106 is exposed for access on the top surface of the protractible hook 104 within the holding area 1 16 where the charging device 106 is activatable in response to contact between the surface of the protractible hook 104 and a wirelessly operable headphone device 200.
  • the protractible hook 104 depicted in Figures 9 and 10 is relatively cylindrical and substantially parallel to the top surface of the housing 102. in this manner, the headphone device 200 may be propped on a surface that curved or oblique with respect to the screen of the housing (e.g., a sloped surface with respect to the floor).
  • the contour of the holding area 1 16 may replicate the contour of a particular device. For example, the holding area may have a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of the head cradle of the headphone device.
  • the face 1 14 of the protractible hook 104 is substantially diamond shaped and has a contour replicating the side wall of the housing 102 as well as a rounded corner that leads to the top wall of the housing 102.
  • the periphery of the face 1 14 lays flush with the top wall and side wall of the housing 102 when the protractible hook 104 is retracted into the cavity 1 10 of the housing 102
  • the face 1 14 may include a visual indicator, such as a logo or icon.
  • Figures 1 1-14 are sectional views of example protractible hooks 104 in example states of operation.
  • the protractible hook 104 Is in a retracted state where the protractible hook 104 resides within the housing 102.
  • the face 1 14 is flushly aligned with the housing surfaces.
  • the protractible hook 104 is in a protracted state where the protractible hook 104 extends past the housing surface.
  • the protractible hook 104 has teeth 184
  • the gear 162 rotates as driven by a motor 160 which may be controlled by controller 1 18.
  • the protractible hook 158 includes a wall 158 that abuts a stop 156 and retains the protractible hook 104 in that position.
  • the motor 160 acts as a speed control device to control the speed at which the gear 162 rotates and pushes the protractible hook 104.
  • the protractible hook 104 may be a cantilever.
  • a support may be coupled to the protractible hook 104 at a fixed end and the charging device 106 may be located adjacent to a free end of the protractible hook 104.
  • the support may be a wall, such as wail 158.
  • the support may assist and sustain the protractible hook 104 when a peripheral of about 100 grams to 700 grams rests on the protractible hook 104
  • the protractible hook 104 may be unbraced and able to sustain a headphone device, while in other examples the protractible hook 104 may be braced with a tensile stay or a compression strut to support weight of the headphone device placed on the free end of the protractible hook 104.
  • the example protractible hook 104 of Figures 1 1 -14 includes a cushion layer 154 and an electronics layer where the charging device 160 is embedded.
  • the cushion layer 154 comprises a material different from the material of the other portions of the protractible hook.
  • the cushion layer 154 may have a textile or rubber material.
  • the electronics layer may include electronics or devices to be moved with the protractible hook 104, such as the charging device 106 and the proximity sensor 152.
  • the electronics layer may also include a magnet 148 coupled to the protractible hook 104.
  • the charging device 106 is a near-field charging device in some examples, the protractible hook 104 includes a wireless charging surface covering the near-filed charging device in the examples of Figures 1 1 -14, the cushion layer 154 may include a substantially flat wireless charging surface.
  • the magnets 148 may guide alignment of a wirelessly chargeable device to rest on the wireless charging surface, where, in response to contact between the wirelessly chargeable device and the wireless charging surface, the charging device 106 activates to provide power to the wirelessly chargeable device.
  • the protracfible hook 104 is in a retracted position.
  • a spring-loaded ejection device 166 is coupled to the protractible hook 104.
  • the protractible hook 104 is sustained in the refracted position with a retainment member 150.
  • the retainment member 150 includes a wall that abuts the wail 158 of the protractible hook 104.
  • a user-accessible button 146 is exposed above a surface of the housing 102.
  • the spring 168 biases the user-accessible button and biases the retainment member 150 in a position to hold the wall 158 of the protractible hook 104
  • the protractible hook 104 is in a protracted position. Pressure on the user-accessible button 146 compresses spring 168 and moves the retainment member 150 such that the wall 158 is released and allows the protractible member 104 to move outside of the housing 102.
  • the actuation member that causes the protractible hook 104 to move to a protracted position is a piston 170.
  • the piston 170 may be designed to provide controlled pressure that moves the protractible hook 104 at a decreasing, regulated rate until the protractible hook 104 remains stopped.
  • Figure 15 depicts an example display device 100 with example protractible hooks 104 and 204.
  • the housing 102 includes a second side wall having an aperture through which the second protractible hook protrudes when in the second protractible hook 204 is in a protracted position.
  • the second protractible hook 204 moves in conjunction with movement of the first protractible hook 104.
  • the second protractible hook 204 is in a protracted position when the first protractible hook 104 is in the retracted position in that example, the protractible hooks 104 and 204 may be coupled to a connective bar 210 (e.g., the hooks 104 and 204 may be integrated into the same unitary piece).
  • the second protractible hook 204 may match the first protractible hook 104.
  • the second protractible hook 204 of Figure 15 includes a second charging device 206 and a second face 214 that are the same as the first charging device 106 and the first face 1 14 of the first protractible hook 104.
  • the cavity may extend between the apertures on each side wall of the housing 102.
  • the cavity may be located behind the screen 1 12 or above the screen 1 12.
  • a user may be able to have a protractibie hook on either side of the monitor with an example device 100 of Figure 15. Such customization may be desirable to a user based on their preferences, environment, and/or set up requirements.
  • a protractibie hook with charging capabilities allows for a convenient stowage option for peripherals, such as headphone devices, to sustain and charge the peripheral when not in use.

Abstract

An example display device includes a housing, a protractible hook fittable within the housing, a charging device coupled to the protractible hook, and an actuation member that moves the protractible hook from the retracted position to a protracted position where the protractible hook is positioned external to the housing.

Description

Frotractsb!e Hooks
BACKGROUND
[0001] Peripherals are commonly used with computers. For example, a desktop computer device may utilize a number of human interface devices, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a camera, a printer, headphones, and the like. Some peripherals, when not in use, may be stored on the same surface of the computer device (such as a desk top), on a separate surface (such as a shelf), or in a container (such as a drawer).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] Figures 1 -3 are block diagrams depicting example display devices.
[0003] Figure 4 is block diagram depicting an example all-in-one computer device.
[0004] Figure 5 is a block diagram depicting example components of a display device.
[0005] Figure 8 is a flow diagrams depicting example methods of operating a display device with a protractible hook.
[0006] Figures 7-10 depict example protractible hooks useable with example displays.
[0007] Figures 1 1-14 are sectional views of example protractible hooks in example states of operation.
[0008] Figure 15 depicts an example display device with example protractible hooks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] In the following description and figures, some example
implementations of display devices having a protractible hook, all-in-one computer systems having a protractible hook, and/or methods of operating a protractible hook are described. As used herein, a display device is an apparatus having a display for producing images. Example display devices include a monitor, a television, and a mobile device, such as a tablet. An all-in-one computer system, as used herein, represents a computer system that includes a display device and a computer system with computing resources to execute an operating system. Example all-in-one systems may be a desktop computer with an integrated screen or a laptop computer.
[0010] Computer systems, such as all-in-one computer systems, may include ports to attach peripherals which allow for providing additional computing features or for enhancing the user experience of the computer system. An example peripheral is a headphone device. As used herein, a headphone device represents an electronic device with at least one speaker coupled to a support formed to be wearable on at least a portion of a head of a human being. Example headphone devices may include over-the-ear headphones, a single speaker headset with a microphone, in- ear earphones, a virtual reality headset, and the like. Example headphone devices may surround the outside of the ear, rest on the ear, or fit inside the ear canal.
Example headphone devices may be wired or wirelessly operable.
[0011] Such peripherals may generally be stored in a container, such as a desk drawer, or on a desk surface when not in use. A user may connect the peripheral to computer system for each intended use, remove the peripheral after use, and stow the peripheral away when not being used for an extended period of time. In some examples, a headset may be left on the desk when not in use. To improve desk space issues, ergonomics, and utility, a hook mounted to a desk, wall, computer case, or monitor may be used to store headphones when not in use, as examples. Some peripherals are wireless for communication and/or power. Such wireless devices may utilize a charging station, which may also take up limited space on the desk top where the keyboard and mouse are located, for example.
[0012] Various examples described below relate to a display device having a protractible hook with charging capabilities. The protractib!e hook may be retained in a compartment while not in use, and the hook may protract to a useable orientation ready to sustain a headphone device when desired by the user. In this manner, the protractible hook may protract in a controlled manner to reveal a charging station capable of sustaining the headphones when not in use and retract into the display device when the headphones are in use and the hook is no longer desired. This may improve the user experience and decrease clutter on the limited space of the desktop on which a display device and/or all-in-one computer system may reside, for example.
[0013] Figures 1 -3 are block diagrams depicting example display devices 100. Referring to Figure 1 , the example display device 100 of Figure 1 generally includes a housing 102, a protractible hook 104, a charging device 106, and an actuation member 108. in general, the actuation member 108 causes the protractible hook 104 to move in and out of a compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 to allow a headphone device to rest on the protractible hook 104 and be charged by the charging device 106.
[0014] The housing 102 of a display device 100 represents an enclosure for a screen. The housing 102 may have component parts including a bezel and a bucket panel in this manner, the housing 102 may include components such as a front face, a side wall, a back panel, a top wail, and a bottom wall. The housing 102 includes structure that defines a compartment 1 10 to house the protractible hook 104. The protractible hook 104 is fittable within the compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 when the protractible hook 104 is in a retracted position.
[0015] The protractible hook 104 represents a prop having a curved or angular piece of a supportive substance for holding or suspending something, such as a headset. For examples, the protractible hook 104 may include a curved pole or a substantially flat resting surface (such as a tray) with a lip at a substantially perpendicular angle to act as a backstop to cradle a headphone device in place. The protractible hook 104 may be a cantilever having a free end for placing a headphone device upon and fixed end coupled to a support, such as support 144 of Figure 2, to sustain the weight of the headphone device. A brace may be used to support the protractible hook 104 as desired.
[0016] A charging device 106 may be coupled to the protractible hook 104 to allow a peripheral, such as a headphone device to charge while sustained by the protractible hook 104. The charging device 106 represents an electronic device having a power source and capable of transferring power to a chargeable device. Charging devices may include charging via electrical connection or wireless charging. As example, the charging device may charge via a direct electrical connection, via induction, via a near-field charging method, a far-field charging method, or the like. [0017] The protractible hook 104 may move among a plurality of positions.
The actuation member 108 represents a mechanism capable of being activated to induce movement of the protractible hook 104. For example, the actuation member 108 may include a spring-loaded ejection device, such as spring-loaded ejection device 140 of Figure 2. The actuation member 108 may move the protractible hook 104 between a retracted position within the compartment 1 10 of the housing 102 and a protracted position where the protractible hook 104 is positioned external to the housing 102. Thus, the protractible hook 104 is accessible to a user when in a protracted position and may not be accessible when in a retracted position.
[0018] The actuation member 108 provides controlled force to move the protractible hook 108 in a regulated manner. The actuation member 108 may include a spring, a piston, a pump, a motor, and the like. The actuation member 108 may include integrated or additional components to control the movement. For example, the actuation member 108 may include a speed control device, such as speed control device 142 of Figure 2, to control movement speed of the protractible hook 104 between the retracted position and the protracted position. Controlled movement may include increasing speed, decreasing speed, movement at a steady rate, or stepped positioning. Examples of components that may be part of a speed control device include variable gear ratios, a stop, a wall having a particular friction property to control speed, a soft-open device, a soft-close device, a spring arm, a cam, a compressible foam or spring, a piston or other hydraulic mechanism, and the like.
[0019] The actuation member 108 may activate or provide control based on user interaction. For example, the actuation member 108 may be mechanically coupled to the protractible hook 104 such that, in response to user interaction with a housing component (or a peripheral connectable to an all-in-one computer system), a motor drives the protractible hook between the retracted position within the housing component and the protracted position projecting from the housing component. The user interaction may be direct or indirect. For example, the user may push on the face of the protractible hook 104 to activate the actuation member 108, the user may push on a button separate from the protractible hook 104 and/or actuation member 108, or the user may interact with a human interface device (such as a keyboard, mouse, touchpad, or camera) that causes activation of the actuation member 108. Other example features the user may interact with to activate the actuation member 108 may include the protractible hook itself, a button separate to the protractible hook, the display housing 102 (such as buy tapping on the bezel or display in a manner corresponding to a gesture), an on-screen display, a peripheral key input, a proximity sensor, an image capture device (e.g , to capture a gesture), a system-level function call such as a software interrupt, and the like. In some examples, there may be multiple protractible hooks coupled to a display device, such has including a protractible hook on the left side of the display device and another on the right side of the display device.
[0020] Referring to Figure 2, the display device may include accessibility features, such as a user-accessible button 146 and a proximity sensor 152, and alignment components, such as a magnet 148. The user-accessible button 146 represents a physical contact point of the housing 102 to activate the actuation member 108 to move the protractible hook 104. The magnet 148 may be located on or near the protractible hook 104 to align the position of the peripheral to lay properly on the protractible hook 104, to ensure charging contacts of the charging device 106 are properly aligned with a charging port of the peripheral, as an example.
[0021] The proximity sensor 152 represents circuitry to identify whether an object is nearby (e.g., within a threshold range of the sensor 152). Example proximity sensors include capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, optical sensors, sonar sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and the like.
[0022] A controller 1 18 may be used in conjunction with the proximity sensor 152. The controller 1 18 may, for example, activate the actuation member 108 when the proximity sensor 152 detects the presence of a peripheral to be placed on the protractible hook 104 and/or activate the charging device 106 based upon location data identified by the proximity sensor 152. In another example, the charging device 106 may provide power transfer and wireless data communication transfer with a wirelessly operable device when the wirelessly operable device is within a range threshold as indicated by the proximity sensor 152
[0023] The controller 1 18 represents a processor resource and a machine- readable medium having a control program stored thereon. The control program, when executed by the processor resource, causes the controller to operate according to the control program. For example, the controller 1 18 may execute instructions that cause the controller 1 18 to activate an actuation member (e.g., a motor) to move the protractible hook to a protracted position or the retracted position (e.g., based on location data provided by the proximity sensor 152). For another example, the controller 1 18 may execute instructions that cause the controller 1 18 to activate the charging device 106 when the protractib!e hook 104 is in a protracted position (e.g., start charging operations when the protractibie hook 104 reaches the protracted position). For yet another example, the control program may be executed to cause the controller 1 18 to request system information of a wirelessly operable device, cause an interface to provide a power status indicator, transfer the software update to the wirelessly operable device in response to the system information indicating a software update exists, and deactivate wireless charge operations and wireless data communication in response to a determination (by the controller 1 18) that the location data indicates the wirelessly operable device is outside the range threshold. The controller 1 18 may be pairable with a wirelessly operable device, such as via a personal area network communication method.
[0024] Referring to Figure 3, the display device 100 generally includes a screen 1 12, a housing 102 around the screen 1 12, a protractibie hook 104, a charging device 106, an actuation member 108, and a retainment member 150. The screen 1 12 represents the surface on which a visual representation of output of an electronic device is displayed. The housing 102 may include a side wall having an aperture. The protractibie hook 104 may be protractibie and retractable into the housing 102 at the aperture of the side wail.
[0025] The protractibie hook 104 may include a face 1 14 and a holding area 1 16. The face 1 14 may be a surface to cover an aperture of the housing 102 (e.g., a port to the compartment 1 10 of Figure 1 ) when the protractibie hook 104 is in a retracted position. The face 1 14 may be fittable within the aperture of the housing; for example, the face 1 14 may have the same shape as the defined aperture. In some examples, the face to cover the aperture of the housing 102 may be separate to the protractibie hook 104 and operate independently or in conjunction with movement of the protractibie hook 104. For example, the face may be a door integrated into the housing 102.
[0026] The protractibie hook 104 may include a holding area 1 16. The holding area 1 16 is a surface of the protractibie hook 104 on which a peripheral may be placed to be sustained by the protractibie hook 104. The holding area 1 16 may be perpendicular or oblique to the face 1 14. The slope of the holding area 1 16 in combination with a lip (such as the face 1 14) may encourage retainment of a peripheral within the holding area 1 16. As discussed further herein, the holding area 1 18 may also include access to the charging device 106, alignment features, protective features, and the like.
[0027] The retainment member 150 represents a mechanism capable of sustaining the protractibie hook in a retracted position. For example, the retainment member may be activated to reduce movement of the protractibie hook 104 in the retracted position in response to a mechanical event, such as a mechanical event activatable by user interaction. Example retainment members may be a stop, a gear- locking feature, a detent in a spring arm, and the like. In an example, the actuation member 108 is coupled to the protractibie hook 104 to move the protractibie hook 104 from the retracted position to a protracted position in response to a first mechanical event activatable by user interaction, and the retainment member 150 is coupleable to the protractibie hook 104 to sustain the protractibie hook in the retracted position in response to a second mechanical event activatable by user interaction.
[0028] Figure 4 is block diagram depicting an example all-in-one computer system 101. The all-in-one computer system 101 generally includes a display 100, a housing component 102, a protractibie hook 104, a charging device 108, an actuation member 108, and a controller 108. The housing component 102 may be coupled to the display and form a cavity (such as compartment 1 10 of Figure 1 ) in which the protractibie hook 104 may reside. The protractibie hook 104 may be integral to the housing and able to extend to the exterior of the housing. For example, the protractibie hook 104 may have a periphery that fits within the cavity, a holding area 1 16 capable of supporting weight of a wirelessly operable device when the protractibie hook 104 is in a protracted position, and a face 1 14 aligned about flush with a surface of the housing component 102 (e.g., the exterior side wall of the housing) when the protractibie hook 104 is in a retracted position. The charging device 106 may be integrated in the protractibie hook 104 or otherwise accessible via the protractibie hook 104, such as including a contact point or charging port within the holding area 1 16 of the protractibie hook 104. In this manner, the actuation member 108 may mechanically actuate movement of the protractibie hook 104 to a position where the charging area of the charging device 106 is accessible. In that example, the controller 1 18 may activate the charging device 106 when the protectible hook 104 is protracted to the charging-accessible position. [0029] Figure 5 is a block diagram depicting example components of a display device. The components may include a charging device 106, an actuation member 108, a proximity sensor 152, and a controller 1 18. The charging device 106, the actuation member 108, and the proximity sensor 152 may be coupled to the processor resource 120 of the controller 1 18 to coordinate operation of those components.
[0030] The controller 1 18 may include a memory resource 122. The memory resource 122 may contain data useable by the controller 1 18, such as location data 134 provided from a proximity sensor 152. The memory resource 122 may contain a set of instructions that are executable by the processor resource 120. The set of instructions are operable to cause the processor resource 120 to perform operations of the display device when the set of instructions are executed by the processor resource 120. The set of instructions stored on the memory resource 122 may be represented as an activation module 124, a system information module 126, an indicator module 128, an update module 130, and a movement module 132. The activation module 124, the system information module 126, the indicator module 128, the update module 130, and the movement module 132 represent program instructions that when executed cause function of the charging device 106, the actuation member 108, and/or the proximity sensor 152. The processor resource 120 may carry out a set of instructions to execute the modules 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, and/or any other appropriate operations associated with a display device. For example, the processor resource 120 may carry out a set of instructions to perform operations corresponding to the description of method 600 of Figure 6.
[0031] Although these particular modules and various other modules are illustrated and discussed in relation to Figure 5 and other example implementations, other combinations or sub-combinations of modules may be included within other implementations. Said differently, although the modules illustrated in Figure 5 and discussed in other example implementations perform specific functionalities in the examples discussed herein, these and other functionalities may be accomplished, implemented, or realized at different modules or at combinations of modules. For example, two or more modules illustrated and/or discussed as separate may be combined into a module that performs the functionalities discussed in relation to the two modules. As another example, functionalities performed at one module as discussed in relation to these examples may be performed at a different module or different modules.
[0032] A processor resource is any appropriate circuitry capable of processing (e.g., computing) instructions, such as one or multiple processing elements capable of retrieving instructions from a memory resource and executing those instructions. For example, the processor resource 120 may be a centra! processing unit (CPU) that enables operation of a protractible hook and a charging device by fetching, decoding, and executing modules 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132. Example processor resources include at least one CPU, a semiconductor-based microprocessor, a programmable logic device (PLD), and the like. Example PLDs include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable array logic (PAL), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and an erasable programmable logic device (EPLD). A processor resource may include multiple processing elements that are integrated in a single device or distributed across devices. A processor resource may process the instructions serially, concurrently, or in partial concurrence.
[0033] A memory resource represents a medium to store data utilized and/or produced by a display device. The medium is any non-transitory medium or combination of non-transitory media able to electronically store data, such as modules of a display device and/or data used by the display device. For example, the medium may be a storage medium, which is distinct from a transitory
transmission medium, such as a signal. The medium may be machine-readable, such as computer-readable. The medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that is capable of containing (i.e., storing) executable instructions. A memory resource may be said to store program instructions that when executed by a processor resource cause the processor resource to implement functionality of a display device, such as the display device 100 of Figure 1. A memory resource may be integrated in the same device as a processor resource or it may be separate but accessible to that device and the processor resource. A memory resource may be distributed across devices.
[0034] in the discussion herein, the controller 1 18 has been described as circuitry or a combination of circuitry and executable instructions. Such components may be implemented in a number of fashions. Looking at Figure 5, the executable instructions may be processor-executable instructions, such as program instructions, stored on the memory resource 122, which is a tangible, non-transitory computer- readable storage medium, and the circuitry may be electronic circuitry, such as processor resource 120, for executing those instructions. The instructions residing on a memory resource may comprise any set of instructions to be executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as a script) by a processor resource.
[0035] in some examples, the executable instructions may be part of an installation package that when installed may be executed by a processor resource to perform operations of a display device, such as the method 600 described with regards to Figure 6. In that example, a memory resource may be a portable medium such as a compact disc, a digital video disc, a flash drive, or memory maintained by a computer device, such as a data server, from which the installation package may be downloaded and installed. In another example, the executable Instructions may be part of an application or applications already installed. A memory resource may be a non-volatile memory resource such as read-only memory (ROM), a volatile memory resource such as random-access memory (RAM), a storage device, or a combination thereof. Example forms of a memory resource include static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), electrically erasable programmable ROM
(EERROM), flash memory, or the like. A memory resource may include integrated memory such as a hard drive (HD), a solid-state drive (SSD), or an optical drive.
[0036] Figure 6 is a flow diagram depicting an example method 600 of operating a display device with a protractibie hook. Referring to Figure 6, example methods of operating a display device with a protractibie hook may generally comprise identifying a peripheral using a proximity sensor, protracting the
protractibie hook, activating the charging device, and retracting the protractibie hook. Such methods are performable by the display devices discussed herein using components such as a controller, an actuation member, and a proximity sensor.
[0037] At block 602, location data is received from a proximity sensor. The location data may represent a distance of a peripheral, such as a wirelessly operable device, with respect to the location of the proximity sensor. At block 604, the actuation member is activated to move the protractibie hook to the protracted position based on the location data retrieved at block 602. For example, if the location data is representative of a peripheral moving to be placed on the protractibie hook, the actuation member protracts the protractibie hook from the interior of the display device to an exterior of the display device. At block 606, the charging device may be activated to allow the peripheral, such as a wirelessly chargeable
headphone, to be charged by the charging device. Once the peripheral is charging, an interface is caused to activate a power status indicator, such as a power status indicator on the peripheral or on the display device, at block 608.
[0038] The display device may be setup to allow for updating software or firmware associated with the peripheral identified by the proximity sensor at block 602. At block 610, a request for system information is sent to a peripheral when the device is propped up by the protractible hook. At block 612, if a software update is available for the peripheral, the software update is transferred to the peripheral, such as over a wireless communication protocol.
[0039] At block 614, location data is received from the proximity sensor, such as location data indicating that the peripheral has been removed from the protractible hook. In response to the location data analysis indicating the protractible hook is no longer in use, any wireless charge operations or wireless data communications may be deactivated at block 616. At block 618, the actuation member is activated to move the protractible hook to a retracted position based on the location data identified at block 614.
[0040] Although the flow diagram of Figure 6 illustrates a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is illustrated. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, the blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present description.
[0041] Figures 7-10 depict example protractible hooks 104 useable with example displays 100. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the display 100 includes a housing 102 around a screen 1 12. A headphone device 200 is depicted as resting on a protractible hook 104 The headphone device 200 rests on the holding area 1 16 with the face 1 14 acting as a lip to sustain the headphone device 200 from falling off the protractible hook 104. The charging device 106 is exposed for access on the top surface of the protractible hook 104 within the holding area 1 16.
[0042] The protractible hook 104 depicted in Figures 7 and 8 is relatively flat, rectangular, and substantially parallel to the top surface of the housing 102. In this manner, the headphone device 200 may be propped above a desktop surface and may be charged at the same time. The face 1 14 of the protractible hook 104 is substantially rectangular and has a contour replicating the side wall of the housing 102 as well as a rounded corner that leads to the top wall of the housing 102. The periphery of the face lays flush with the top wall and side wall of the housing 102 when the protractible hook is refracted into the housing. In some examples, a second protractib!e hook may be coupled to the display device with corresponding components to operate the second protractible hook. For example, a plurality of hooks may be located on a side of a monitor or a single hook may be located each side of the monitor.
[0043] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the display 100 includes a housing 102 around a screen 1 12 and a protractible hook 104 capable of protruding from the housing 102 and away from the screen 1 12. The surface of the protractible hook 104 may include a headphone receiving area 1 18 that is curved or oblique with respect to screen 1 12. A headphone device 200 is depicted as resting on a protractible hook 104. The headphone device 200 rests on the holding area 1 16 with the face 1 14 acting as a lip to sustain the headphone device 200 from falling off the protractible hook 104. The holding area 1 18 includes alignment magnets 148 to ensure the charging device 106 couples to the headphone 200. Each contact point may be a magnet and/or a power contact point in any appropriate combination. For example, three contact points may be magnets as well as a negative electrical contact, a positive electrical contact, or a ground contact. The charging device 106 is exposed for access on the top surface of the protractible hook 104 within the holding area 1 16 where the charging device 106 is activatable in response to contact between the surface of the protractible hook 104 and a wirelessly operable headphone device 200.
[0044] The protractible hook 104 depicted in Figures 9 and 10 is relatively cylindrical and substantially parallel to the top surface of the housing 102. in this manner, the headphone device 200 may be propped on a surface that curved or oblique with respect to the screen of the housing (e.g., a sloped surface with respect to the floor). The contour of the holding area 1 16 may replicate the contour of a particular device. For example, the holding area may have a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of the head cradle of the headphone device. The face 1 14 of the protractible hook 104 is substantially diamond shaped and has a contour replicating the side wall of the housing 102 as well as a rounded corner that leads to the top wall of the housing 102. The periphery of the face 1 14 lays flush with the top wall and side wall of the housing 102 when the protractible hook 104 is retracted into the cavity 1 10 of the housing 102 The face 1 14 may include a visual indicator, such as a logo or icon.
[004S] Figures 1 1-14 are sectional views of example protractible hooks 104 in example states of operation. Referring to Figures 1 1 , the protractible hook 104 Is in a retracted state where the protractible hook 104 resides within the housing 102. The face 1 14 is flushly aligned with the housing surfaces. Referring to Figure 12, the protractible hook 104 is in a protracted state where the protractible hook 104 extends past the housing surface. The protractible hook 104 has teeth 184 The gear 162 rotates as driven by a motor 160 which may be controlled by controller 1 18. The protractible hook 158 includes a wall 158 that abuts a stop 156 and retains the protractible hook 104 in that position. The motor 160 acts as a speed control device to control the speed at which the gear 162 rotates and pushes the protractible hook 104.
[0046] The protractible hook 104 may be a cantilever. A support may be coupled to the protractible hook 104 at a fixed end and the charging device 106 may be located adjacent to a free end of the protractible hook 104. The support may be a wall, such as wail 158. The support may assist and sustain the protractible hook 104 when a peripheral of about 100 grams to 700 grams rests on the protractible hook 104 In some examples the protractible hook 104 may be unbraced and able to sustain a headphone device, while in other examples the protractible hook 104 may be braced with a tensile stay or a compression strut to support weight of the headphone device placed on the free end of the protractible hook 104.
[0047] The example protractible hook 104 of Figures 1 1 -14 includes a cushion layer 154 and an electronics layer where the charging device 160 is embedded. The cushion layer 154 comprises a material different from the material of the other portions of the protractible hook. For example, the cushion layer 154 may have a textile or rubber material. The electronics layer may include electronics or devices to be moved with the protractible hook 104, such as the charging device 106 and the proximity sensor 152. The electronics layer may also include a magnet 148 coupled to the protractible hook 104.
[0048] In some examples, the charging device 106 is a near-field charging device in some examples, the protractible hook 104 includes a wireless charging surface covering the near-filed charging device in the examples of Figures 1 1 -14, the cushion layer 154 may include a substantially flat wireless charging surface. The magnets 148 may guide alignment of a wirelessly chargeable device to rest on the wireless charging surface, where, in response to contact between the wirelessly chargeable device and the wireless charging surface, the charging device 106 activates to provide power to the wirelessly chargeable device.
[0049] Referring to Figure 13, the protracfible hook 104 is in a retracted position. A spring-loaded ejection device 166 is coupled to the protractible hook 104. The protractible hook 104 is sustained in the refracted position with a retainment member 150. The retainment member 150 includes a wall that abuts the wail 158 of the protractible hook 104. A user-accessible button 146 is exposed above a surface of the housing 102. The spring 168 biases the user-accessible button and biases the retainment member 150 in a position to hold the wall 158 of the protractible hook 104
[0050] Referring to Figure 14, the protractible hook 104 is in a protracted position. Pressure on the user-accessible button 146 compresses spring 168 and moves the retainment member 150 such that the wall 158 is released and allows the protractible member 104 to move outside of the housing 102. In the example of Figure 14, the actuation member that causes the protractible hook 104 to move to a protracted position is a piston 170. The piston 170 may be designed to provide controlled pressure that moves the protractible hook 104 at a decreasing, regulated rate until the protractible hook 104 remains stopped.
[0051] Figure 15 depicts an example display device 100 with example protractible hooks 104 and 204. The housing 102 includes a second side wall having an aperture through which the second protractible hook protrudes when in the second protractible hook 204 is in a protracted position. The second protractible hook 204 moves in conjunction with movement of the first protractible hook 104. For example, the second protractible hook 204 is in a protracted position when the first protractible hook 104 is in the retracted position in that example, the protractible hooks 104 and 204 may be coupled to a connective bar 210 (e.g., the hooks 104 and 204 may be integrated into the same unitary piece). The second protractible hook 204 may match the first protractible hook 104. For example, the second protractible hook 204 of Figure 15 includes a second charging device 206 and a second face 214 that are the same as the first charging device 106 and the first face 1 14 of the first protractible hook 104. The cavity may extend between the apertures on each side wall of the housing 102. The cavity may be located behind the screen 1 12 or above the screen 1 12. A user may be able to have a protractibie hook on either side of the monitor with an example device 100 of Figure 15. Such customization may be desirable to a user based on their preferences, environment, and/or set up requirements. Indeed, a protractibie hook with charging capabilities allows for a convenient stowage option for peripherals, such as headphone devices, to sustain and charge the peripheral when not in use.
[0052] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the elements of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or elements are mutually exclusive.
[0053] The terms“include,”“have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, mean the same as the term“comprise” or appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term“based on,” as used herein, means“based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus may be based only on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus. Furthermore, the use of the words“first,”“second,” or related terms in the claims are not used to limit the claim elements to an order or location, but are merely used to distinguish separate claim elements.
[0054] The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A display device comprising:
a housing defining a compartment;
a protractible hook, the protractible hook fittable within the compartment of the housing;
a charging device coupled to the protractible hook; and
an actuation member to move the protractible hook from the retracted position to a protracted position where the protractible hook is positioned external to the housing.
2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member includes:
a spring-loaded ejection device; and
a speed control device to control movement speed of the protractible hook between the retracted position and the protracted position
3. The display device of claim 1 , comprising:
a face to cover a port to the compartment when the protractible hook is in a retracted position; and
a user-accessible button to activate the actuation member.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the face:
is integrated in the protractible hook; and
is the user-accessible button.
5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the protractible hook includes:
a cushion layer having a textile or rubber material; and
an electronics layer, wherein the charging device is embedded in the electronics layer.
6. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnet coupled to the protractible hook, wherein:
the charging device is a near-fie!d charging device;
the protractibie hook includes a wireless charging surface covering the near-field charging device, the wireless charging surface being substantially flat;
the magnet to guide alignment of a wirelessly chargeable device to rest on the wireless charging surface; and
the charging device activates in response to contact between the wirelessly chargeable device and the wireless charging surface.
7. A display device comprising:
a screen;
a housing around the screen, the housing including a side wall having an aperture;
a protractibie hook having:
a face fittable within the aperture when the protractibie hook is in a retracted position; and
a surface perpendicular or oblique to the face;
a charging device coupled to the protractibie hook;
an actuation member coupled to the protractibie hook, the actuation member to move the protractibie hook from the retracted position to a protracted position in response to a first mechanical event activatable by user interaction; and
a retain ent member coupieabie to the protractibie hook, the retainment member to sustain the protractibie hook in the retracted position in response to a second mechanical event activatable by user interaction.
8. The display device of claim 7, further comprising:
a speed control device to control movement speed of the protractibie hook between the retracted position and the protracted position; and
a controller to activate the charging device when the protractibie hook reaches the protracted position.
9. The display device of claim 7, further comprising: a support coupled to the protractible hook at a fixed end, the support to sustain the protractible hook when a peripheral of about 100 grams to 700 grams rests on the protractible hook, wherein:
the protractible hook is a cantilever;
the charging device is located adjacent to a free end of the protractible hook; and
the surface of the protractible hook is a headphone receiving area that is curved or oblique with respect to screen; and
the charging device is activatable in response to contact between the surface of the protractible hook and a wirelessly operable headphone device
10 The display device of claim 7, further comprising:
a second protractible hook that moves in conjunction with movement of the first protractible hook, such that the second protractible hook is in a protracted position when the first protractible hook is in the retracted position, wherein the housing includes a second side wall having an aperture through which the second protractible hook protrudes when the second protractible hook is in the protracted position.
1 1. An all-in-one computer system comprising:
a display;
a housing component coupled to the display, the housing component forming a cavity;
a protractible hook integrated into the housing component, the protractible hook capable of supporting weight of a wirelessly operable device when the protractible hook is in a protracted position, the protractible hook having:
a periphery that fits within the cavity;
a holding area; and
a face aligned about flush with a surface of the housing component when the protractible hook is in a retracted position;
a charging device integrated in the protractible hook;
an actuation member mechanically coupled to the protractible hook, the actuation member to, in response to direct or indirect user interaction with the housing component or a peripheral connectable to the all-in-one computer device, drive, by a motor, the protractibie hook between the retracted position within the housing component and the protracted position projecting from the housing component; and
a controller to activate the charging device when the protractibie hook is in the protracted position.
12. The all-in-one computer system of claim 1 1 , comprising:
a proximity sensor,
wherein the controller activates the charging device based upon location data identified by the proximity sensor.
13. The all-in-one computer system of claim 12, wherein:
the charging device provides power transfer and wireless data communication transfer with the wirelessly operable device when the wirelessly operable device is within a range threshold as indicated by the proximity sensor.
14. The all-in-one computer system of claim 13, wherein:
the controller is pairable with wirelessly operable device and the controller comprises:
a processor resource; and
a machine-readable medium having a control program stored thereon, the control program, when executed by the processor resource, to cause the controller to:
request system information of the wirelessly operable device;
cause an interface to provide a power status indicator;
in response to the system information indicating a software update exists, transfer the software update to the wirelessly operable device; and deactivate wireless charge operations and wireless data communication in response to a determination, by the controller, that the location data indicates the wirelessly operable device is outside the range threshold.
15. The all-in-one computer system of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises: a machine-readable medium having a control program stored thereon, the control program to, when executed by the controller, cause: the motor to move the protractible device to the protracted position or the retracted position based on the location data provided by the proximity sensor.
PCT/US2018/053290 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Protractible hooks WO2020068096A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2018/053290 WO2020068096A1 (en) 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Protractible hooks
EP18934927.7A EP3750021A4 (en) 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Protractible hooks
CN201880092831.2A CN112020691A (en) 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Extendable hook
US17/042,151 US20210208626A1 (en) 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Protractible hooks

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2018/053290 WO2020068096A1 (en) 2018-09-28 2018-09-28 Protractible hooks

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WO2020068096A1 true WO2020068096A1 (en) 2020-04-02

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EP (1) EP3750021A4 (en)
CN (1) CN112020691A (en)
WO (1) WO2020068096A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3750021A4 (en) 2021-12-15
CN112020691A (en) 2020-12-01
US20210208626A1 (en) 2021-07-08
EP3750021A1 (en) 2020-12-16

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